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Bulgarian Voters Reject Party Wanting Stronger Moscow Ties

Result cheers those who favored maintaining a tight bond with the European Union

By

Drew Hinshaw

Updated March 27, 2017 4:49 a.m. ET

Bulgaria’s center-right party won a legislative election Sunday, according to preliminary exit polls, batting back an opposition that sought to steer the European Union nation closer to Russia.

The Citizens for European Development–known by its Bulgarian acronym GERB–held a 32% to 28% lead over the Socialist Party. The latter calls for the EU to drop its sanctions on Russia and has backed a pipeline that would likely increase...